New tools for management of phosphine resistance

Phosphine is the primary fumigant used to protect the majority of the world' s grain and a variety of other stored commodities from insect pests. Phosphine is playing an increasingly important role in the protection of commodities for two primary reasons. Firstly, use of the alternative fumigant, methyl bromide, has been sharply curtailed and is tightly regulated due to its role in ozone depletion, and secondly, consumers are becoming increasingly intolerant of contact pesticides. Niche alternatives to phosphine exist, but they suffer from a range of factors that limit their use, including: 1) Limited commercial adoption due to expense or slow mode of action; 2) Poor efficacy due to low toxicity, rapid sorption, limited volatility or high density; 3) Public health concerns due to toxicity to handlers or nearby residents, as well as risk of explosion; 4) Poor consumer acceptance due to toxic residues or smell. These same factors limit the prospects of quickly identifying and deploying a new fumigant. Given that resistance toward phosphine is increasing among insect pests, improved monitoring and management of resistance is a priority. Knowledge of the mode of action of phosphine as well as the mechanisms of resistance may also greatly reduce the effort and expense of identifying synergists or novel replacement compounds.

Reconstruction of past UV radiation

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation has a broad range of effects concerning life on Earth. Soon after the mid-1980s, it was recognized that the stratospheric ozone content was declining over large areas of the globe. Because the stratospheric ozone layer protects life on Earth from harmful UV radiation, this lead to concern about possible changes in the UV radiation due to anthropogenic activity. Initiated by this concern, many stations for monitoring of the surface UV radiation were founded in the late 1980s and early 1990s. As a consequence, there is an apparent lack of information on UV radiation further in the past: measurements cannot tell us how the UV radiation levels have changed on time scales of, for instance, several decades. The aim of this thesis was to improve our understanding of past variations in the surface UV radiation by developing techniques for UV reconstruction. Such techniques utilize commonly available meteorological data together with measurements of the total ozone column for reconstructing, or estimating, the amount of UV radiation reaching Earth's surface in the past. Two different techniques for UV reconstruction were developed. Both are based on first calculating the clear-sky UV radiation using a radiative transfer model. The clear-sky value is then corrected for the effect of clouds based on either (i) sunshine duration or (ii) pyranometer measurements. Both techniques account also for the variations in the surface albedo caused by snow, whereas aerosols are included as a typical climatological aerosol load. Using these methods, long time series of reconstructed UV radiation were produced for five European locations, namely Sodankylä and Jokioinen in Finland, Bergen in Norway, Norrköping in Sweden, and Davos in Switzerland. Both UV reconstruction techniques developed in this thesis account for the greater part of the factors affecting the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. Thus, they are considered reliable and trustworthy, as suggested also by the good performance of the methods. The pyranometer-based method shows better performance than the sunshine-based method, especially for daily values. For monthly values, the difference between the performances of the methods is smaller, indicating that the sunshine-based method is roughly as good as the pyranometer-based for assessing long-term changes in the surface UV radiation. The time series of reconstructed UV radiation produced in this thesis provide new insight into the past UV radiation climate and how the UV radiation has varied throughout the years. Especially the sunshine-based UV time series, extending back to 1926 and 1950 at Davos and Sodankylä, respectively, also put the recent changes driven by the ozone decline observed over the last few decades into perspective. At Davos, the reconstructed UV over the period 1926-2003 shows considerable variation throughout the entire period, with high values in the mid-1940s, early 1960s, and in the 1990s. Moreover, the variations prior to 1980 were found to be caused primarily by variations in the cloudiness, while the increase of 4.5 %/decade over the period 1979-1999 was supported by both the decline in the total ozone column and changes in the cloudiness. Of the other stations included in this work, both Sodankylä and Norrköping show a clear increase in the UV radiation since the early 1980s (3-4 %/decade), driven primarily by changes in the cloudiness, and to a lesser extent by the diminution of the total ozone. At Jokioinen, a weak increase was found, while at Bergen there was no considerable overall change in the UV radiation level.

Optical Studies of the Antarctic Glacio-Oceanic System

The Antarctic system comprises of the continent itself, Antarctica, and the ocean surrounding it, the Southern Ocean. The system has an important part in the global climate due to its size, its high latitude location and the negative radiation balance of its large ice sheets. Antarctica has also been in focus for several decades due to increased ultraviolet (UV) levels caused by stratospheric ozone depletion, and the disintegration of its ice shelves. In this study, measurements were made during three Austral summers to study the optical properties of the Antarctic system and to produce radiation information for additional modeling studies. These are related to specific phenomena found in the system. During the summer of 1997-1998, measurements of beam absorption and beam attenuation coefficients, and downwelling and upwelling irradiance were made in the Southern Ocean along a S-N transect at 6°E. The attenuation of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was calculated and used together with hydrographic measurements to judge whether the phytoplankton in the investigated areas of the Southern Ocean are light limited. By using the Kirk formula the diffuse attenuation coefficient was linked to the absorption and scattering coefficients. The diffuse attenuation coefficients (Kpar) for PAR were found to vary between 0.03 and 0.09 1/m. Using the values for KPAR and the definition of the Sverdrup critical depth, the studied Southern Ocean plankton systems were found not to be light limited. Variabilities in the spectral and total albedo of snow were studied in the Queen Maud Land region of Antarctica during the summers of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. The measurement areas were the vicinity of the South African Antarctic research station SANAE 4, and a traverse near the Finnish Antarctic research station Aboa. The midday mean total albedos for snow were between 0.83, for clear skies, and 0.86, for overcast skies, at Aboa and between 0.81 and 0.83 for SANAE 4. The mean spectral albedo levels at Aboa and SANAE 4 were very close to each other. The variations in the spectral albedos were due more to differences in ambient conditions than variations in snow properties. A Monte-Carlo model was developed to study the spectral albedo and to develop a novel nondestructive method to measure the diffuse attenuation coefficient of snow. The method was based on the decay of upwelling radiation moving horizontally away from a source of downwelling light. This was assumed to have a relation to the diffuse attenuation coefficient. In the model, the attenuation coefficient obtained from the upwelling irradiance was higher than that obtained using vertical profiles of downwelling irradiance. The model results were compared to field measurements made on dry snow in Finnish Lapland and they correlated reasonably well. Low-elevation (below 1000 m) blue-ice areas may experience substantial melt-freeze cycles due to absorbed solar radiation and the small heat conductivity in the ice. A two-dimensional (x-z) model has been developed to simulate the formation and water circulation in the subsurface ponds. The model results show that for a physically reasonable parameter set the formation of liquid water within the ice can be reproduced. The results however are sensitive to the chosen parameter values, and their exact values are not well known. Vertical convection and a weak overturning circulation is generated stratifying the fluid and transporting warmer water downward, thereby causing additional melting at the base of the pond. In a 50-year integration, a global warming scenario mimicked by a decadal scale increase of 3 degrees per 100 years in air temperature, leads to a general increase in subsurface water volume. The ice did not disintegrate due to the air temperature increase after the 50 year integration.

Measurements of Volatile Organic Compounds - from Biogenic Emissions to Concentrations in Ambient Air

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) affect atmospheric chemistry and thereafter also participate in the climate change in many ways. The long-lived greenhouse gases and tropospheric ozone are the most important radiative forcing components warming the climate, while aerosols are the most important cooling component. VOCs can have warming effects on the climate: they participate in tropospheric ozone formation and compete for oxidants with the greenhouse gases thus, for example, lengthening the atmospheric lifetime of methane. Some VOCs, on the other hand, cool the atmosphere by taking part in the formation of aerosol particles. Some VOCs, in addition, have direct health effects, such as carcinogenic benzene. VOCs are emitted into the atmosphere in various processes. Primary emissions of VOC include biogenic emissions from vegetation, biomass burning and human activities. VOCs are also produced in secondary emissions from the reactions of other organic compounds. Globally, forests are the largest source of VOC entering the atmosphere. This thesis focuses on the measurement results of emissions and concentrations of VOCs in one of the largest vegetation zones in the world, the boreal zone. An automated sampling system was designed and built for continuous VOC concentration and emission measurements with a proton transfer reaction - mass spectrometer (PTR-MS). The system measured one hour at a time in three-hourly cycles: 1) ambient volume mixing-ratios of VOCs in the Scots-pine-dominated boreal forest, 2) VOC fluxes above the canopy, and 3) VOC emissions from Scots pine shoots. In addition to the online PTR-MS measurements, we determined the composition and seasonality of the VOC emissions from a Siberian larch with adsorbent samples and GC-MS analysis. The VOC emissions from Siberian larch were reported for the fist time in the literature. The VOC emissions were 90% monoterpenes (mainly sabinene) and the rest sesquiterpenes (mainly a-farnesene). The normalized monoterpene emission potentials were highest in late summer, rising again in late autumn. The normalized sesquiterpene emission potentials were also highest in late summer, but decreased towards the autumn. The emissions of mono- and sesquiterpenes from the deciduous Siberian larch, as well as the emissions of monoterpenes measured from the evergreen Scots pine, were well described by the temperature-dependent algorithm. In the Scots-pine-dominated forest, canopy-scale emissions of monoterpenes and oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) were of the same magnitude. Methanol and acetone were the most abundant OVOCs emitted from the forest and also in the ambient air. Annually, methanol and mixing ratios were of the order of 1 ppbv. The monoterpene and sum of isoprene 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBO) volume mixing-ratios were an order of magnitude lower. The majority of the monoterpene and methanol emissions from the Scots-pinedominated forest were explained by emissions from Scots pine shoots. The VOCs were divided into three classes based on the dynamics of the summer-time concentrations: 1) reactive compounds with local biological, anthropogenic or chemical sources (methanol, acetone, butanol and hexanal), 2) compounds whose emissions are only temperaturedependent (monoterpenes), 3) long-lived compounds (benzene, acetaldehyde). Biogenic VOC (methanol, acetone, isoprene MBO and monoterpene) volume mixing-ratios had clear diurnal patterns during summer. The ambient mixing ratios of other VOCs did not show this behaviour. During winter we did not observe systematical diurnal cycles for any of the VOCs. Different sources, removal processes and turbulent mixing explained the dynamics of the measured mixing-ratios qualitatively. However, quantitative understanding will require longterm emission measurements of the OVOCs and the use of comprehensive chemistry models. Keywords: Hydrocarbons, VOC, fluxes, volume mixing-ratio, boreal forest

Toxic blue-green algae: The "problem" in perspective

The incidence of blue-green algal blooms and surface scum-formation are certainly not new phenomena. Many British and European authors have been faithfully describing the unmistakable symptoms of blue-green algal scums for over 800 years. There is no disputing that blue-green algal toxins are extremely harmful. Three quite separate categories of compound have been separated: neurotoxins; hepatotoxins and lipopolysaccharides. There is a popular association between blue-green algae and eutrophication. Certainly the main nuisance species - of Microcystis, Anabaena and Aphanizomenon are rare in oligotrophic lakes and reservoirs. Several approaches have been proposed for the control of blue-green algae. Distinction is made between methods for discharging algae already present (eg algicides; straw bales; viruses; parasitic fungi and herbivorous ciliates), and methods for averting an anticipated abundance in the future (phosphorous control, artificial circulation etc).

Investigation of Fundamental Processes Governing Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation in Laboratory Chambers

Our understanding of the processes and mechanisms by which secondary organic aerosol (SOA) is formed is derived from laboratory chamber studies. In the atmosphere, SOA formation is primarily driven by progressive photooxidation of SOA precursors, coupled with their gas-particle partitioning. In the chamber environment, SOA-forming vapors undergo multiple chemical and physical processes that involve production and removal via gas-phase reactions; partitioning onto suspended particles vs. particles deposited on the chamber wall; and direct deposition on the chamber wall. The main focus of this dissertation is to characterize the interactions of organic vapors with suspended particles and the chamber wall and explore how these intertwined processes in laboratory chambers govern SOA formation and evolution.

A Functional Group Oxidation Model (FGOM) that represents SOA formation and evolution in terms of the competition between functionalization and fragmentation, the extent of oxygen atom addition, and the change of volatility, is developed. The FGOM contains a set of parameters that are to be determined by fitting of the model to laboratory chamber data. The sensitivity of the model prediction to variation of the adjustable parameters allows one to assess the relative importance of various pathways involved in SOA formation.

A critical aspect of the environmental chamber is the presence of the wall, which can induce deposition of SOA-forming vapors and promote heterogeneous reactions. An experimental protocol and model framework are first developed to constrain the vapor-wall interactions. By optimal fitting the model predictions to the observed wall-induced decay profiles of 25 oxidized organic compounds, the dominant parameter governing the extent of wall deposition of a compound is identified, i.e., wall accommodation coefficient. By correlating this parameter with the molecular properties of a compound via its volatility, the wall-induced deposition rate of an organic compound can be predicted based on its carbon and oxygen numbers in the molecule.

Heterogeneous transformation of δ-hydroxycarbonyl, a major first-generation product from long-chain alkane photochemistry, is observed on the surface of particles and walls. The uniqueness of this reaction scheme is the production of substituted dihydrofuran, which is highly reactive towards ozone, OH, and NO3, thereby opening a reaction pathway that is not usually accessible to alkanes. A spectrum of highly-oxygenated products with carboxylic acid, ester, and ether functional groups is produced from the substituted dihydrofuran chemistry, thereby affecting the average oxidation state of the alkane-derived SOA.

The vapor wall loss correction is applied to several chamber-derived SOA systems generated from both anthropogenic and biogenic sources. Experimental and modeling approaches are employed to constrain the partitioning behavior of SOA-forming vapors onto suspended particles vs. chamber walls. It is demonstrated that deposition of SOA-forming vapors to the chamber wall during photooxidation experiments can lead to substantial and systematic underestimation of SOA. Therefore, it is likely that a lack of proper accounting for vapor wall losses that suppress chamber-derived SOA yields contribute substantially to the underprediction of ambient SOA concentrations in atmospheric models.

Estudo do reparo das lesões induzidas no DNA de Escherichia coli pela radiação ultravioleta C (UVC)

Didaticamente, podemos dividir o espectro da radiação ultravioleta (UV) em três faixas: UVA (400 a 320 nm), UVB (320 a 290 nm) e UVC (290 a 100 nm). Apesar do UVC ou UV-curto ser eficientemente filtrado pela camada de ozônio da Terra e sua atmosfera, este é uma das faixas do espectro de UV mais usadas para explorar as consequências de danos causados ao DNA, já que a letalidade induzida por este agente está relacionada aos danos diretos no genoma celular, como as lesões dímero de pirimidina, que são letais se não reparadas. Contudo, demonstrou-se que a radiação UVC pode gerar espécies reativas de oxigênio (ERO), como o oxigênio singleto (1O2). Embora, o radical hidroxil (OH) cause modificações oxidativas nas bases de DNA, alguns trabalhos indicam que o 1O2 também está envolvido nos danos oxidativos no DNA. Esta ERO é produzida por vários sistemas biológicos e reações fotossensibilização, quando cromóforos são expostos à luz visível ou são excitados pela luz UV, permitindo que essa energia possa ser transferida para o oxigênio sendo convertido em 1O2, que é conhecido por modificar resíduos de guanina, gerando 8-oxoG, que caso não seja reparada pode gerar uma transversão GC-TA. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de elucidar a participação de ERO nos efeitos genotóxicos e mutagênicos gerados pela radiação UVC, assim como as enzimas envolvidas no processo de reparação destas lesões em células de Escherichia coli. Nos ensaios as culturas foram irradiadas com o UVC (254 nm; 15W General Electric G15T8 germicidal lamp, USA). Nossos resultados mostram que o uso de quelantes de ferro não alterou a letalidade induzida pelo UVC. A azida sódica, um captador de 1O2, protegeu as cepas contra os danos genotóxicos gerados pelo UVC e também diminuiu a frequência de mutações induzidas no teste com rifampicina. A reversão específica GC-TA foi induzida mais de 2,5 vezes no ensaio de mutagênese. A cepa deficiente na proteína de reparo Fpg, enzima que corrige a lesão 8-oxoG, apresentou menos quebras no DNA do que a cepa selvagem no ensaio de eletroforese alcalina. A letalidade induzida pelo UVC foi aumentada nos mutantes transformados com o plasmídeo pFPG, ao mesmo tempo que representou uma redução na indução mutagênica. Houve dimuição na eficiência de transformação com plasmídeo pUC 9.1 na cepa fpg quando comparado a cepa selvagem. Assim como, um aumento da sensibilidade ao UVC na associação entre mutantes fpg e uvrA. Estes resultados mostram que o 1O2 participa dos danos induzidos pelo UVC, através da geração da lesão 8-oxoG, uma lesão mutagênica, que é reparada pela proteína Fpg

Monitoramento das concentrações de aldeídos e BTEX como precursores de ozônio e o efeito final de semana das concentrações de ozônio na região de Bangu.

O ozônio é um poluente secundário formado pela presença de poluentes atmosféricos primários e secundários formados a partir de uma sequência de reações entre o dióxido de nitrogênio e de compostos orgânicos voláteis (COV). No grupo de compostos orgânicos voláteis estão os aldeídos e os BTEX. Os COVS são emitidos, no Rio de Janeiro, principalmente por veículos automotores. O presente estudo realizou então coletas de aldeídos e BTEX no período de 2013. Além disso, com dados de 2012 e 2013 de poluentes de uma rede automática de monitoramento analisou o possível efeito fim de semana existente na região. O efeito fim de semana é caracterizado por altas concentrações de ozônio no final de semana mesmo com a redução da frota das emissões de NOx e COVs neste período.

Long-term changes of planktonic rotifers in a subtropical Chinese lake dominated by filter-feeding fishes

1. The long-term changes (1956-1998) in density and species composition of planktonic rotifers were studied at two sampling stations (I, II) of Lake Donghu, a shallow eutrophic Chinese Lake densely stocked with filter-feeding fishes. Annual average densities of rotifers increased with an increase in fish yield and eutrophication, whilst species number decreased from 82 in 1962-1963 to 62 in 1994-1998. 2. During 1962-98, some species such as Anuraeopsis fissa, Polyarthra spp. (including P. dolichoptera & P. vulgaris), Trichocerca pusilla and Synchaeta oblonga increased their percentage in abundance remarkably, whilst the proportion of Keratella cochlearis decreased at two relatively eutrophic stations from 19 to 4.2% at Station I and from 30 to 3.2% at Station IL 3. The high r(max) of A. fissa probably made it more successful than other rotifers under high predation pressure by planktivorous fish. The decrease in the K. cochlearis population might be attributed partly to predation by Cyclops vicinus. 4. Small rotifers were less vulnerable to fish predation than large-sized cladocerans. Decreases in cladocerans coincided with increases in rotifers, suggesting that the indirect effect of fish predation on cladocerans might have partly contributed to the population development of rotifers in Lake Donghu during recent decades. 5. We also conducted surveys (1994-1998) of seasonal dynamics of rotifers at four sampling stations (I-IV) which have varied in trophic status after fragmentation of the lake in the 1960s. A total of 75 species were identified at the four stations. Both densities and biomass of rotifers were considerably higher in the two more eutrophic stations than in the two less eutrophic stations. This indicates that the population increase of rotifers at Stations I and II during recent decades might be partly attributed to eutrophication of the lake water.

青藏高原东缘几种树苗对增强紫外线-B和氮供应的响应

大气臭氧的损耗导致了地球表面具有生物学效应的紫外线-B(UV-B)辐射增强。同时，大气成分变化中除了UV-B辐射增强外，氮沉降是一个新近出现而又令人担忧的环境问题，其来源和分布正在迅速扩展到全球范围，并不断向陆地和水生生态系统沉降。本试验在四川省境内的中国科学院茂县生态站内进行，以云山、冷杉、色木槭和红椋子幼苗为模式植物，从生长形态、光合作用、抗氧化能力和矿质营养等方面研究了青藏高原东缘4种树苗对全球变化－增强UV-B辐射和氮供应(氮沉降)的响应。该试验为室外盆栽试验，包括四个处理：(1)大气UV-B辐射+无额外的氮供应(C)；(2)大气UV-B辐射+额外的氮供应(N)；(3)增强UV-B辐射+无额外的氮供应(UV-B)；(4)增强UV-B辐射+额外的氮供应(UV-B+N)。其目的：一方面有助于丰富我国对全球变化及区域响应研究的全面认识，进一步完善在全球气候变化条件下臭氧层削减和氮沉降对陆地生态系统影响的内容；另一方面，在一定程度上有助于我们更好的理解在全球变化下森林更新的早期过程。具体结果如下： 增强的UV-B辐射在生长形态、光合、抗氧化能力、活性氧和矿质营养方面对4种幼苗都有显著的影响。UV-B辐射增强对幼苗的影响不仅与物种有关，而且，还与氮营养水平相关。总体表现为，高的UV-B辐射导致了色木槭和红椋子幼苗叶片的皱缩和卷曲，并降低了色木槭幼苗的叶片数和叶重，在额外的氮供应下，云杉、冷杉和红椋子的叶重也显著地降低了；色木槭和红椋子幼苗叶片的解剖结构受到了增强的UV-B辐射的影响，增强的UV-B辐射显著地降低了色木槭叶片的栅栏组织厚度，提高了红椋子叶片的厚度；增强的UV-B辐射显著地降低了4种幼苗的单株总生物量、植物地下部分的生长、总叶绿素含量 [Chl (a + b)]、净光合速率和最大量子产量(Fv/Fm)，提高了4种幼苗叶片的膜脂过氧化(MDA含量)，改变了植物体不同器官中的矿质元素含量；增强的UV-B辐射提高了冷杉、色木槭和红椋子叶片中的过氧化氢含量(H2O2)、超氧负离子(O2-)生成速率，在额外的氮供应下，云杉叶片中的活性氧含量也显著地提高了；在无额外的氮供应条件下，增强的UV-B辐射显著地提高了4种幼苗叶片中的UV-B吸收物质、脯氨酸含量和抗氧化酶的活性(SOD、POD、CAT、GR和APX)。在额外的氮供应条件下，UV-B辐射的增强却显著地降低了冷杉叶片中脯氨酸含量和红椋子叶片中UV-B吸收物质含量，但是，在4种幼苗叶片中，5种抗氧化酶的活性对UV-B辐射的增强没有明显的规律性，增强的UV-B辐射显著地提高了云杉叶片中的POD、SOD和GR的活性，提高了冷杉叶片中的POD和GR活性，提高了色木槭叶片中的POD、SOD和CAT活性和红椋子幼苗叶片中的POD和SOD活性。从这些结果可知，植物在遭受高的UV-B辐射导致的过氧化胁迫时，植物体内形成了一定的保护机制，但是，这种保护不能抵抗高的UV-B辐射对植物的伤害。 额外的氮供应在生长形态、光合、抗氧化能力、活性氧和矿质营养方面对4种幼苗都有一定的影响，不同幼苗对额外的氮供应响应不同，并且受到UV-B辐射水平的影响。在当地现有的UV-B辐射水平下，额外的氮供应显著地提高了幼苗的单株总生物量、植物地下部分的生长、Chl (a + b)、净光合速率(红椋子除外)、UV-B吸收物质(冷杉除外)、脯氨酸含量(红椋子除外)和部分抗氧化酶的活性，降低了H2O2的含量、O2-的生成速率和MDA含量(红椋子除外)，改变了植物体内部分矿质元素含量，显著地提高了云杉和冷杉叶片中的Fv/Fm。这些指标总体表明，在当地现有大气UV-B辐射水平下，额外的氮供应对植物的生长和发育是有利的。在增强的UV-B辐射水平下，4种幼苗的生长形态和光合大部分指标都没有受到额外氮供应的影响，额外的氮供应提高了红椋子幼苗的单株总生物量和Chl (a + b)含量，提高了冷杉和色木槭叶片中的活性氧含量和MDA含量，却降低了红椋子叶片中的活性氧含量；额外的氮供应也提高了云杉、色木槭和红椋子叶片中UV-B吸收物质和脯氨酸含量，降低了冷杉叶片中UV-B吸收物质和脯氨酸含量；在抗氧化酶活性方面，额外的氮供应降低了云杉、冷杉叶片中5种抗氧化酶的活性和红椋子叶片中POD和GR的活性，提高了色木槭叶片中的POD和SOD的活性；4种幼苗植物体内的矿质元素含量对额外的氮供应没有显著的规律性。从这些结果可知，在高的UV-B辐射下，额外的氮供应提高了云杉、冷杉和色木槭幼苗对高的UV-B辐射的敏感性，然而，额外的氮供应却促进了红椋子幼苗的生长，原因可能是，在高的UV-B辐射下，额外的氮供应增加了红椋子叶片的厚度、叶重和叶片数，降低了叶片中活性氧含量的结果。表明在高的UV-B辐射水平下，额外的氮供应降低了红椋子幼苗对高的UV-B辐射的敏感性。 在全球变化的趋势下，UV-B辐射增强和氮沉降可能同时存在，我们的研究表明，与大气UV-B辐射+无额外的氮供应处理相比，增强UV-B辐射+额外的氮供应处理显著地降低了幼苗的单株总生物量(红椋子除外)、Chl (a + b)、净光合速率、Fv/Fm(冷杉除外)和MDA含量(红椋子除外)，提高了活性氧含量 (云杉除外)、UV-B紫外吸收物质含量(冷杉除外)、脯氨酸含量和部分抗氧化酶的活性，改变了植物体不同器官中的矿质元素含量。结果表明，在当地现有条件下，全球变化(UV-B辐射增强和氮沉降)对云杉、冷杉和色木槭幼苗的生长是不利，尽管植物体内一些抗氧化性指标提高了，然而，却对红椋子幼苗的单株总生物量的累积没有显著的影响。 The depletion of the ozone led to the increase of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) with biological effects in the earth’s surface. At the same time, except for enhanced UV-B radiation, nitrogen deposition was an anxious environmental problem at present, rapidly expanding to the global scope and continuously depositing to land and aquatic ecosystem. The experiment was conducted in Maoxian Ecological Station of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan province, China. Picea asperata, Abies faxoniana, Acer mono Maxim and Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings were selected as model plants to assess the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation and supplemental nitrogen supply on growth, morphological, photosynthesis, antioxidant and mineral nutrient traits of 4 species seedlings in east Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The experiment was potted outdoor, including 4 treatments: (1) ambient UV-B without supplemental nitrogen (control, C); (2) ambient UV-B with supplemental nitrogen (N); (3) enhanced UV-B without supplemental nitrogen (UV-B); (4) enhanced UV-B with supplemental nitrogen (UV-B+N). One hand, it was helpful for enriching our country to comprehensive understanding of the researches in the global change and the region response, further perfecting the effects of the depleted ozone layer and nitrogen deposition on land ecosystem under the global change; the other hand, it was favorable for us to better understanding of the early process of forest renews under the global change. The results were as follows: Enhanced UV-B radiation had significant effects on 4 species seedlings in growth, morphological, photosynthesis, antioxidant and mineral nutrient traits of 4 species seedlings. The effects of enhanced UV-B on plants were not only related with species, but also related with nitrogen nutrient level. Generally, the increase of UV-B radiation led to the shrinkage and curl of leaves in Acer mono Maxim and Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings, and reduced the number of leaf and leaf weight of Acer mono Maxim seedlings, under supplemental nitrogen supply, leaf weight of Picea asperata, Abies faxoniana and Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings significantly also reduced; the anatomical features of leaf in Acer mono Maxim and Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings affected by enhanced UV-B radiation, the increase of UV-B radiation markedly reduced the palisade tissue thickness of Acer mono Maxim leaf and enhanced the leaf thickness of Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings; the enhanced UV-B radiation significantly reduced total biomass per plant of 4 species seedlings, the growth of the underground parts, Chl (a + b), net photosynthetic rate and maximum potential quantum yield of photosynthesis (Fv/Fm), and increased the degree of lipid peroxidation (MDA content) and changed the content of mineral elements in different parts of plants; the enhanced UV-B radiation also increased the rate of superoxide radical (O2-) production and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content in leaves of Abies faxoniana, Acer mono Maxim, Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings, under supplemental nitrogen supply, the reactive oxygen species in leaves of Picea asperata seedlings also significantly increased by enhanced UV-B radiation; under without supplemental nitrogen supply, enhanced UV-B radiation evidently induced an increase in UV-B absorbing compounds, proline content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, GR and APX) of leaves in 4 species seedlings. Under supplemental nitrogen supply, enhanced UV-B radiation induced a decrease in proline content of leaves in Abies faxoniana seedlings and UV-B absorbing compounds of leaves in Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings, but, there were no obvious rules in the activities of five antioxidant enzymes of 4 species seedling leaves to enhanced UV-B radiation, enhanced UV-B radiation significantly increased the activities of POD, SOD and GR in Picea asperata leaves, the activities of POD and GR in Abies faxoniana leaves and the activities of POD, SOD and CAT in Acer mono Maxim leaves. The results indicated that some protective mechanism was formed when plants were exposed to enhanced UV-B radiation, but the protection could not counteract the harm of high UV-B radiation on plants. Supplemental nitrogen supply had some effects on 4 species seedlings in growth, morphological, photosynthesis, antioxidant and mineral nutrient traits. The response of 4 species seedlings was different to supplemental nitrogen supply, and was affected by UV-B levels. Under local ambient UV-B radiation, supplemental nitrogen supply significantly increased the total biomass per plant, the growth of underground parts, Chl (a + b), net photosynthetic rate (except for Acer mono Maxim seedlings), UV-B absorbing compounds (except for Abies faxoniana seedlings), proline content (except for Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings) and the activities of some antioxidant enzymes, and reduced H2O2 content, the rate of O2- production and MDA content (except for Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings) and changed the content of mineral elemental in different parts; supplemental nitrogen supply also evidently increased Fv/Fm in Picea asperata and Abies faxoniana seedlings. These results indicated that supplemental nitrogen supply was favorable for the growth of plants under local ambient UV-B radiation. Under enhanced UV-B radiation, mostly parameters in growth and morphology of 4 species seedlings were not affected by supplemental nitrogen supply. Supplemental nitrogen supply increased the total biomass per plant and Chl (a + b) of Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedling, increased the reactive oxygen species and MDA content in Abies faxoniana and Acer mono Maxim leaves, and reduced the reactive oxygen species in Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak leaves; supplemental nitrogen supply also increased UV-B absorbing compounds and proline content in Picea asperata, Acer mono Maxim and Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak leaves, decreased UV-B absorbing compounds and proline content in Abies faxoniana leaves; in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, supplemental nitrogen supply significantly reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes in Picea asperata and Abies faxoniana leaves and the activities of POD and GR in Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak leaves, and increased the activities of POD and SOD in Acer mono Maxim leaves; the content of mineral elements in 4 species seedlings was no significantly rule to supplemental nitrogen supply. We knew from the results, under enhanced UV-B radiation, supplemental nitrogen supply made Picea asperata, Acer faxoniana and Acer mono Maxim seedlings more sensitivity to enhanced UV-B radiation, however, accelerated the growth of Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings. The reason was probably that supplemental nitrogen supply increased the leaf thickness, leaf weight and leaf number, reduced the reactive oxygen content of leaf in Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings grown under high UV-B radiation. This showed that supplemental nitrogen supply reduced the sensitivity of Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings to high UV-B radiation. Under the tendency of the global change, enhanced UV-B radiation and nitrogen deposition may probably coexist. The results showed, compared with the treatment of ambient UV-B radiation without supplemental nitrogen supply, the treatment of enhanced UV-B radiation with supplemental nitrogen supply significantly reduced the total biomass per plants (except for Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings), Chl (a + b), net photosynthetic rate, Fv/Fm and MDA content (except for Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings), and increased reactive oxygen content (except for Picea asperata seedlings), UV-B absorbing compounds (except for Abies faxoniana seedlings), proline content and part antioxidant enzymes, and changed the content of mineral elements of different parts. The results indicated that the global change (enhanced UV-B and nitrogen deposition) were not favorable for the growth of plants under local ambient UV-B radiation and nitrogen nutrient level,, though increased some antioxidant indexes, however, the treatment of enhanced UV-B with supplement nitrogen supply did not significantly affect on the biomass accumulation of Swida hemsleyi (Schneid. et Wanger.) Sojak seedlings.

A mechanism for enhanced photocatalytic activity of silver-loaded titanium dioxide

In this paper, silver-loaded TiO2 photocatalyst was prepared by photochemical impregnation method and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), photooxidation of phenol and photoreduction of Cr(VI). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) was used to detect photoproduced paramagnetic radicals. The correlation of photocatalytic activity and photogenerated reactive species was discussed, and the mechanism of silver-loaded TiO2 for enhancement of photocatalytic activity was elucidated. The results show that deposited silver on TiO2 Surface acts as a site where electrons accumulate. The better separation between electrons and holes on the modified TiO2 surface allowed more efficiency for the oxidation and reduction reactions. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was mainly attributed to the increased amounts of O-2(.-) reactive species and surface Ti3+ reactive center on silver-loaded TiO2 photocatalyst. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Metabolic studies on the nitrophile yeast Rhodotorula glutinis DSBCA06

Nitrogen is the most abundant element in atmosphere and fundamental component of proteins, nucleic acids and other essential molecules. In the past century the industrial use of nitrogen compounds has grown exponentially causing widespread pollution. Nitrogen pollution has wide-ranging impacts including contributions to global warming, acid rains and eutrophication. Reduction of nitrogen use in industry and agriculture coupled whit remediation treatments could represent a solution. To this purpose we isolated from environmental samples a nitrophile strain capable of removing nitrogen compounds efficiently from the medium. Through the molecular characterization, we identified the strain as a Rhodotorula glutinis that we called DSBCA06. We examined the main metabolic features of the strain, also to determine the best growing conditions. At the same time, the ability of the strain to grow in presence of high nitrite concentrations was assayed, being a relevant feature poorly studied earlierfor other environmental yeasts. The ability of the strain to grow in presence of heavy metal cations was also tested, showing a noticeable tolerance. The cost of bioremediation treatments is often a problem. One of the way to obviate this is to produce valuable secondary metabolites, capable of positively impact the cost of the processes. In this context the ability of the strain to produce carotenoids, natural molecules with antioxidant properties used for food production, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry, has been evaluated. The strain Rhodotorula glutinis DSBCA06 showed interesting features suggesting its possible use in bioremediation or industrials process for production of secondary metabolites such as lipids and carotenoids.

Arctic microorganisms respond more to elevated UV-B radiation than CO2

David Johnson, Colin D. Campbell, John A. Lee, Terry V. Callaghan and Dylan Gwynn-Jones (2002). Arctic microorganisms respond more to elevated UV-B radiation than CO2. Nature, 416 (6876) pp.82-83 Sponsorship: NERC / EU / Swedish Academy of Sciences RAE2008

Ocean-atmosphere trace gas exchange

The oceans contribute significantly to the global emissions of a number of atmospherically important volatile gases, notably those containing sulfur, nitrogen and halogens. Such gases play critical roles not only in global biogeochemical cycling but also in a wide range of atmospheric processes including marine aerosol formation and modification, tropospheric ozone formation and destruction, photooxidant cycling and stratospheric ozone loss. A number of marine emissions are greenhouse gases, others influence the Earth's radiative budget indirectly through aerosol formation and/or by modifying oxidant levels and thus changing the atmospheric lifetime of gases such as methane. In this article we review current literature concerning the physical, chemical and biological controls on the sea-air emissions of a wide range of gases including dimethyl sulphide (DMS), halocarbons, nitrogen-containing gases including ammonia (NH3), amines (including dimethylamine, DMA, and diethylamine, DEA), alkyl nitrates (RONO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) including isoprene and oxygenated (O)VOCs, methane (CH4) and carbon monoxide (CO). Where possible we review the current global emission budgets of these gases as well as known mechanisms for their formation and loss in the surface ocean.

A microbiological survey of a constructed wetland system supplied by dairy 'dirty water' effluent

A constructed wetland at Greenmount College, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland was built in 2004 to study the treatment of ‘dirty water’ effluent from the Greenmount dairy unit. The effluent has a mean BOD5 of c.1000 mg/L and contains milking parlour wash-water and runoff from silage clamps and yard areas lightly contaminated with cattle manure. The nominal water retention time of this wetland is 100 days. The primary purposes of the wetland are to eliminate organic pollution and eutrophication risk from nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. However the wetland should also effectively remove any zoonotic pathogens present in manure and milk. Accordingly, a 12-month microbiological survey of water in the five ponds of the wetland commenced in August 2007. The aims of the survey are to determine changes, as effluent passes through the wetland system, in a broad range of indicator organisms (faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium perfringens) and the occurrence of several pathogens - Salmonella, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium and Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map). The highest indicator organism counts - E. coli and faecal coliforms, 103-104 CFU/ml - are observed in pond 1, and a significant reduction (1-3 log10) in all indicator organisms occurs as water passes through the wetland from pond 1 to pond 5. Hence the wetland is efficient at reducing levels of indicator organisms in the dairy effluent. Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. are being detected intermittently in all the ponds, whilst Cryptosporidium and Map have yet to be detected, and so the ability of the wetland to reduce/eliminate specific pathogens is less clear at present.